U.S. stocks end lower; post first weekly gain for 2005

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks ended lower but off their worst levels for the session Friday, allowing the market to post its first weekly gain for the year as investors took comfort from a pick up in merger activity. See full story.

P&G to buy Gillette in stock-swap deal

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Procter & Gamble Co. said Friday it will buy the Gillette Co. in a stock swap worth about $57 billion, creating the world's largest consumer products company with 21 brands -- from Pampers to Duracell batteries -- that have $1 billion to $5 billion each in annual sales. See full story.

Court rules Merck's Fosamax patent invalid

BOSTON (MarketWatch) - A federal appeals court has ruled that a key patent on Merck's top-selling drug, Fosamax, is invalid, which will open the door for generic competition against the drug as early as 2008. See full story.

McDonald's Q4 net increases to $397.9M vs. 125.7M

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - McDonald's reported fourth-quarter earnings that more than tripled its year-ago performance Friday due to a 10 percent increase in revenue, a 5.1 percent rise in comparable sales and higher margins. See full story.

Marsh loses big chunk of Visa business to rivals

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Visa International, operator of the world's largest payment system, has dropped Marsh & McLennan as the broker for a large portion of its insurance needs. See full story.

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